N30bn monthly allocation: Account for Benue’s funds, PDP tells Alia

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia to account for the state’s revenue and expenditure following claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that Benue now receives as much as N30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The opposition party said the governor’s silence over Wike’s disclosure had raised questions about transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, insisting that the administration must either dispute the figure or explain how the allocations have been utilised.

In a statement issued in Makurdi yesterday, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Bright Antyo, demanded a comprehensive breakdown of the revenue received by the state government since Alia assumed office on May 29, 2023, particularly following the removal of petrol subsidy, which has increased allocations to the three tiers of government.

The party claimed that combined FAAC allocations to the Benue State Government and its 23 local government councils had exceeded N1.3 trillion during the period under review, arguing that the people deserved to know how the funds had been managed.

It challenged the governor to publish verifiable records of revenue, expenditure, projects executed and results achieved, maintaining that increased allocations should translate into measurable improvements in the living conditions of residents.

According to the PDP, the administration has yet to provide a comprehensive public account of how the resources received since 2023 have been deployed to address the state’s developmental and security challenges.

The party questioned the condition of public healthcare facilities, schools, agricultural support programmes and road infrastructure, arguing that the level of public investment should reflect the resources available to the government.

It specifically cited unfinished township road projects in Makurdi and the prolonged construction of the High Level underpass as projects whose implementation timelines and expenditure required public explanation.

The PDP also raised concerns over the persistent insecurity in parts of the state, where communities have continued to suffer attacks, killings, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.

It demanded details of the government’s expenditure on security and the measurable results achieved, stressing that the scale of the crisis made accountability particularly important.

The party further called on the 23 local government councils to publish details of their respective FAAC receipts and expenditure, arguing that transparency must extend beyond the state government to the grassroots.

“We want Governor Alia to break his silence on Wike’s N30 billion monthly FAAC disclosure, publish the state’s revenue and expenditure records since May 29, 2023, and provide verifiable details of projects funded, amounts spent and completion status,” the statement said.

The PDP also demanded that the governor “explain security expenditure and the results achieved” and ensure that all 23 local government councils publicly account for their respective allocations.

It maintained that the administration had an obligation to respond to questions about public spending rather than allow uncertainty over the figures and the utilisation of funds to persist.

“If Wike’s figures are inaccurate, Alia should say so and provide the facts. If they are accurate, he must explain what his administration has done with the money.

“Public revenue is not a private inheritance. Government money belongs to the people, and the people have a right to know how it is spent,” the party declared.

The PDP insisted that public accountability was essential to good governance and urged the administration to make its financial records accessible to residents to enable them to assess its performance.

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